Is it true that the second model controller from Panasonic, lacking the headphone jack, is better than the original? I've heard that the d pad is easier to use. Is it as good as a MD or Saturn d pad? I'm mostly satisfied with the original pad I have, but I've noticed it's sometimes hard to keep moving in a straight path in FPS games.

Hi Zeta. Good to see you here too. There's me, you and Martiniii here.

To answer your question, I have a couple of JP1X's (the original) and a couple of JP2X's (the smaller one).

The controller components themselves are (I would say) Identical in terms of quality. The JP2X is LITERALLY just a smaller version of the JP1X. It just comes down to the quality/age of the controller you have vs personal preference on size.

Personally, I have smaller hands, so prefer the JP2X. Other friends don't and prefer the JP1X.

Personally I prefer the JP2X, it's smaller and if you don't use the headphone the JP1X is basically the same. To me the original megadrive pad was also too big and I usually use a smaller pad which I find more ergonomic:

About the dpad, I think saturn and megadrive dpads are still better than the JP2X. Playing street fighter an such can get you calluses just like the snes pad

pd. I have a goldstar for second player and I hate both the size and the dpad. It really sucks.

That's a little disappointing. At least now I know not to bother buying a JP2X. Good to see you here, NeoGeoNinja. I haven't been active on the saturn board partly because I forgot my password and partly because I got my computer reimaged and it's no longer on my bookmarks so I never think of it.

zetastrike wrote:Good to see you here, NeoGeoNinja. I haven't been active on the saturn board partly because I forgot my password and partly because I got my computer reimaged and it's no longer on my bookmarks so I never think of it.

Likewise

Well, here's a reminder to pop back in and say hi

zetastrike wrote:That's a little disappointing. At least now I know not to bother buying a JP2X

Like I inferred, you might just have a well worn, old controller. Just buy a controller in better condition or try and source a 'new' one. One of my JP2's is new. It feels glorious!

Don't be discouraged. The 3DO pad is actually a really nice controller.

There's also such a thing as a 3DZero adaptor. Allows you to use SNES pads with the 3DO. I have one of those too...

I've had two of each, and to me the D-pads on the JP2X definitely felt a little crisper and better. There was something kind of coarse about the JP1X D-pads -- a subtle grittiness and stickiness that put me off.

That said, I wish I still had one so I could use headphones with my 3DO. But all told, the analogy to 3-button vs. 6-button on the Genesis is pretty apt, though that difference is far more striking -- the Genesis 6-button D-pad is probably the best I've ever used.

I prefer the JP1X myself. And it is all due to the size. I don't think my hands are particularly large, I'm 5' 11", have a shoe size of about 7 1/2, IIRC. But I really do prefer larger controllers. my hands get cramps using the JP2X. My favorite for size comfortability is actually the Goldstar pad, but the JP1X is superior response.

I like the original Xbox controllers better, I love the way the Jag and JagPro controllers feel. I like the Saturn standard controller, but when it comes to the 3D controller and DreamCast controller, even though they are big controllers, the handles/triggers are set in too narrow for me, and once again my hands cramp. I use the MadCatz DC controllers, they feel great to me.

I always hated Nintendo's first two system controllers because they were to small for me, and the Master System and Atari7800 Europads too. I like the Genesis' model 1 controllers though.

My experience is the bigger the better, even though I think I have medium hands.

Since my headphones are not long enough I can use the 3do controllers with music CDs to have a longer headphone cord at night. Currently using it to learn the Irish language.

What came after the Jaguar was the PS1 which for all it's greatness, ushered in corporate development and with it the bleached, repetitive, bland titles which for the most part we're still playing today. - David Wightman

It's long enough I can put the language CD in the 3do and listen to it with head phones in my bed. Though sometimes I fall asleep.

What came after the Jaguar was the PS1 which for all it's greatness, ushered in corporate development and with it the bleached, repetitive, bland titles which for the most part we're still playing today. - David Wightman

I personally prefer the JP2X D-Pad better. It does feel a bit better. You can do diagonals quite a bit easier on the later released pad. The Panasonic pad wasn't a terrible design from the get go and it really was well made, but the JP1X really does have diagonal issues. So yeah, there are differences in the way the controller performs beyond that of preference...just saying.

This is a stick up! Put all of your 3DO games in the bag and nobody gets hurt!

JP2X feels better to me than the original. Not as bulky (but still a solid size) and the d-pad doesn't have issues.

The d-pad on the JP2X is nice, but still not quite up there with the Genesis six-button from the mid-'90s and the Saturn Model 2 controllers. It feels great but doesn't seem to feel quite as snappy/responsive as Sega's later floating d-pad offerings.

Haven't used the smaller ones but my set up is such that I use s video and headphone only for audio so the original controllers are required or I would need to remove another system to get audio from the tv.... If I find a cheap new one I would like to get it but that's getting more unlikely
The two I have function well but are well used and getting a little squeaky and worn would be nice to use brand new one. I like the size of it. It's nicely weighted too and I like the shoulder buttons. Would be nice to try the smaller ones but every time I see them online they aren't cheap enough to justify a non essential purchase.